Monday, July 7, 2008

Spatial Worlds websitePicture descriptions: Left image: Central Park, New York on a lazy Sunday afternoon.Right image: Old and new in New York Harbour.

Adelaide, Australia: S: 34º 55' E: 138º 36'During the early days of GIS implementation in schools the argument was often forwarded that we cannot do GIS because of the cost! Yes, there was and still is a cost to purchase excellent classroom GIS software such as ESRI ArcGIS. However as the Internet has grown and evolved there is a now a plethora of data, remote sensed images and even software available free to schools. All that is required to do GIS is an Internet connection (preferably fast broadband to handle large downloads and images) In fact there is nothing stopping a teacher using GIS in their classroom if they have access to the Internet and some time to learn to use the free software and develop classroom activities around the free maps and images. This posting aims to provide some useful sites for the teacher wanting to use GIS with the minimum of expense.

An article on the NASA's Earth Observatory site at http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/The article looks at the development of higher resolution satellite imagery enabling more detailed images of cities at night. Not only is this is a good article on the development of spatial technologies, but it also provides excellent images and explanations of the world's cities at night. An excellent resource for a unit on transport routes.

Some great images of Cities at Night can be found at http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Study/CitiesAtNight/Subscribe to the site for updates, as most news and images are relevant to all units of Geography.

Blue Marble: Next Generation was a project by the Earth Observatory that aims to "provide a detailed look at an entire year (2004) in the life of our planet". Images were taken each month. - http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/BlueMarble/

The magic of data and space

NationMasterNationMaster is a massive central data source and a handy way to graphically compare nations. NationMaster is a vast compilation of data from such sources as the CIA World Factbook, UN, and OECD.http://www.nationmaster.com/index.php

Geo-Data and GIS This is the place to find data projects and GIS information. For example, weather data projects, development data as well as digital maps and ideas for the use of GIS.http://www.sln.org.uk/geography/gis.htmFreeGeo-data city data download at http://www.geodatasource.com/cities-free.html

National Geographic EarthPulse websiteMaps on the Human condition, nature and connections. Some interesting opportunities for correlation of data http://www.nationalgeographic.com/earthpulse/index.html

Health and GIS from the UKInvestigating the health of a nation, a city, a locality. The website activities uses geographical health data to show distribution and ask questions on health in an area. http://www.sln.org.uk/geography/haz2.htm

World rich listEvery year we gaze enviously at the lists of the richest people in world. Wondering what it would be like to have that sort of cash. But where would you sit on one of those lists? Here's your chance to find out.http://www.globalrichlist.com/

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Who am I?

I have taught history, geography and civics and citizenship in the South Australian education system since 1976. I have been actively involved in the promotion of geography and history over the years, in particular the use of spatial technology in schools. I am a Past Chair of the Australian Geography Teachers' Association (Chair 2008-13) and Immediate Past President of the Australian Alliance of Associations in Education (2013-present). During the development of the Australian Curriculum: Geography I was a member of the ACARA Advisory Panel (2009-2013) and Executive Director of the ESA GeogSpace project. From 2007-2011 and in 2015 I was the Manager for the Humanities and Social Sciences (HaSS) in the South Australian Department for Education and Child Development (DECD). Presently I am a Teaching Academic in HaSS Education at the University of South Australia and the Manager for the Premier's ANZAC Spirit School Prize in DECD.